Whirlybird Peach Melba

Family: Tropaeolaceae Flower / Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Whirlybird Peach Melba to a garden.

Fragrant, honeyed blossoms unfurl in a whorl of warm peach and buttery gold, each petal edged like a brushstroke—an instant garden highlight with a delicate, peppery lift.

“Whirlybird Peach Melba” forms compact, trailing mounds that keep producing showy flowers in abundance, with tender leaves that offer a crisp bite and vivid color for standout garnishes. Grow it for fresh floral beauty—ideal for topping salads, brightening platters, and adding a lively, tangy accent to vinegars and quick pickles.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 40 DaysHabit: Spreading

Botanical illustration of Whirlybird Peach Melba

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Whirlybird Peach Melba Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 11th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 4th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jun 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jun 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	May 30th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	May 20th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 11th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 2nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Mar 21st – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	40
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Spreading
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	55
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These Nasturtium flowers read like peachy-gold perfume with a snap of pepper at the finish—use them raw so the petals stay tender-crisp instead of turning slack. Great for adding a lively, tangy accent to cool dairy or lemon-brightened plates where that pepper lift can cut through.

Best Uses

fresh garnish on bitter greens or citrusy salads
quick-pickled blossoms for a tangy, poppy topper
folding into yogurt or ricotta with lemon for a bright spoonable finish
topping crostini with soft cheese and flaky salt

Flavor Profile

honeyed floral aroma buttery gold sweetness peppery, slightly tangy bite tender-crisp petal texture

Kitchen Pairings

goat cheese lemon balsamic vinegar cured salmon plain yogurt extra-virgin olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium) plants getting yellow leaves with spots, and how do I stop it?

Yellowing with speckling and leaf spotting on Tropaeolum majus is often caused by fungal leaf spot or bacterial problems worsened by wet foliage. Water at the soil line, keep plants spaced for airflow, and remove the worst affected leaves early. If it keeps spreading, treat with a labeled copper-based bactericide/fungicide and avoid overhead watering for the rest of the season.

How often should I water Tropaeolum majus during active growth in full sun?

During the main growing phase, water deeply only when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, then let excess drain—nasturtiums dislike staying soggy. In full sun and warm weather, this usually means about every 3–5 days, but less often in cool or rainy spells. Consistently wet soil leads to fewer flowers and more disease, so err on the drier side once established.

How can I tell when my Tropaeolum majus is ready to harvest?

For the classic 40-day crop, start harvesting once flowers and tender leaves are abundant and plants are actively blooming (often around 35–40 days). Pick flowers and young leaves in the morning when they’re crisp, and harvest before they get tough or overly mature. If you also want seed, allow pods to develop until they’re firm and change color, then harvest for drying.